Acupuncture

Acupuncture,
the ancient Chinese art of healing, originated almost 6000 years ago
with written records of its practice dating from about 500
B.C. Its principles are based upon the theory of
Qi. Qi is the vital
energy which pervades and sustains all
beings and things manifest and unmanifest in the cosmos of which man is
the integral part.Qi
circulates throughout the body along a
system of intricate pathways called meridians and collaterals.
When the Qi
flows freely and in abundance, we are in the state of
health, while lack of or stagnation of Qi
give rise to disease and even death.

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine theory,
human body contains 14 regular meridians and collaterals. They
pertain to the organs (known as zang-fu)
interiorly and extend to the extremities and joints into an organic
whole, by which they transport the vital energy, Qi, and blood and
regulate yin and yang, keeping the functions and activities of all
parts of the body in harmony and balance relatively. When a
body contacts diseases, often the channels will appear as reaction
points which are also called acupoints.

The purpose of treatment is to help the body to
heal itself by stimulating and harmonizing the flow of life force or
Qi. As
a science and an art,
methods of treatment in acupuncture may vary from the traditional to
the most modern. Treatment is individualized and tailored to
meet the patient's needs. The patient is treated with a
combination of body, mind and soul and not simply symptoms.

Acupuncture has been gaining increasing popularity in the recent years in the US, both in
popular media and among medical professionals. It has strong applications for treatments of pain,
stress related conditions, mood disorders and immune related conditions. Under the care of a
professional practitioner, acupuncture can be a very powerful healing modality for disease management
and prevention.

Acupuncture treatments are very safe, only sterilized single use disposable needles are placed into
the body. The most common risk of acupuncture is minimal bleeding or bruising at the needle site. Many patients
tolerate acupuncture without significant side effects. Acupuncture treatments are not painful, patients
usually experience a slight pinch or sting upon needle entry, accompanied later by a sensation of pressure
or soreness at the
needled areas. Once the needles are placed, many patients are able to enter a deep state of relaxation for
the duration of the 20 to 30 minutes sessions. Treatment frequency varies with different conditions, many
patients will experience some relief of pain after 1 or 2 sessions. For disease management or prevention,
a series of 8-12 sessions on a weekly basis may be recommended. Dr. Chan will provide her patients with
individualized treatment plans.

Chinese Herbal Medicine

Chinese herbs are a combination of natural plant, animal and mineral
substances used to heal and balance the human body, mind and emotions.
Herbs can help balance the organ's yin and yang and invigorate the Qi
and blood. Chinese herbs treat both the symptoms and root cause. It is
a step-by-step treatment process that works steadily and gradually to
heal the patient. Furthermore, the herbs have minimal side effects and
do not leave any toxic residue in the body. In combination, acupuncture
and Chinese herbs will increase the effectiveness of the treatment and
the healing process.

Naturopathic Medicine

Naturopathic Medicine is a distinctively natural approach
to health and healing that recognizes the integrity of the
whole person. Naturopathic Medicine emphasizes the
treatment of disease through the stimulation, enhancement, and support
of the inherent healing capacity of the person.
Methods of treatments are chosen to work with the patient's vital
force, respecting the intelligence of the natural healing
process. The practice of Naturopathic Medicine emerges from six
underlying principles of healing. These principles are based on the
objective observation of the nature of health and disease, and are
continually reexamined in light of scientific analysis. It is these
principles that distinguish the profession from other medical
approaches:

The healing power of nature (vis medicatrix naturae)

Identify and treat the cause (tolle causam)

First do no harm (primum no nocere)

Treat the whole person

The physician as teacher (docere)

Prevention

Naturpathic doctors undergo four years of medical training after
completing an undergraduate bachelor degree. The first two years are
similar to their MD counterparts, in which the basic medical science
subjects such as anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, and pathology are
taught. The last two years of clinical training include studies in
areas such as nutrition, botanical medicine, physical medicine, and
pharmacology. Naturopathic doctors are required to complete a
rigorous clinical training program prior to graduation. They are
required to pass a licensing board exam administered by the Department
of Health.

Naturopathic doctors can use both conventional laboratory testing
techniques such as blood test and X-Rays along with other nutritional
and hormone testings. Dr. Chan utilizes a variety of diagnostic
techniques such as laboratory blood test, saliva testing, and various
fuctional medicine diagnostics. Dr. Chan uses botanical medicine,
supplementation, bio-identical hormone therapy, acupuncture, and
lifestyle modification as possible treatment options.

Treatment of Infertility

Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine have been
used to support fertility for several thousand years. Recent clinical studies
have shown that they can be helpful in aiding modern reproductive techniques
such as In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF).

These are goals of acupuncture treatment and IVF:

To improve the function of the ovaries to produce better quality eggs

To regulate hormones to produce a larger number of follicles

To promote uterine relaxation and reduce stress level

To increase blood flow to the pelvic region in order to optimize receptivity of embryo implants

To lessen side effects of drugs

To prevent miscarriages

Acupuncture can be helpful for the following conditions which can
attribute to infertility:

Hormonal imbalance

Uterine fibroid

Ovarian cyst

Anovulation

Luteal phase defect

Tubal blockage

Pelvic inflammatory disease

There are many causes of infertility based on Chinese Medicine pattern differentiatons.
By inserting needles into the acupuncture points in the body, it can
balance internal organ disharmony thus restoring optimal energy and blood flow.
When the body's Yin/Yang is returned to balance, it is able to
support the process of conception and pregnancy.